COVID-19: Radiography Education during the Pandemic Period - An International Literature Review

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Published: Jul 1, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/akttech.40672
Keywords:
Radiography Radiographers Students Education Covid-19
Kleanthis Konstantinidis
Radiology Department, General Hospital of Attica KAT, Athens, Greece
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1251-7202
Ioannis Apostolakis
School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Abstract

Aim: To highlight the problems, weaknesses and threats towards the educational process in Radiography during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to promote strategies adopted to mitigate the impact of this crisis on the educational process.


Methods: A literature review of the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was performed using specific keywords. In addition, snowball referral sampling method was utilized. As the COVID-19 pandemic period covers the last two years, the search was limited to the years 2020-2022.


Results: The initial suspension of radiography students’ clinical placements and the abrupt transition from the traditional education to distance e-learning due to the pandemic created stress, confusion and delays in the graduation of senior students. The resumption of clinical placements occurred with fewer students per placement and for a shorter period. The measures for the social distancing, the pressure exerted on the National Health Systems and the fear of infection from COVID-19 also raised doubts about the career’s choice students have made. A new normal is emerging for educators too, who are called to integrate new digital technologies in the educational process, to respond to new circumstances.


Discussion - Conclusions: As the need of the National Health Systems for the supply and rapid integration of new Healthcare Professionals is considered imperative, it is necessary to reshape the educational process towards this direction. The implementation of new technologies in the educational process on a consistent basis and beyond the need imposed by the pandemic, collaborative learning, the utilization of Web 2.0 tools and mentorship can increase students’ confidence and sense of security and trainers’ feedback towards students’ needs.

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